BACKGROUNDDendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination has been investigated as immunotherapy for several types of cancer. A potential drawback to vaccination with autologous monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) could be that MoDCs from patients are functionally impaired. In case of androgen-independent prostate cancer (CaP), the cancer itself, diverse prior therapies, and the hormone manipulation may affect the immune system.METHODS. MoDCs from patients suffering from androgen-independent CaP were generatedaccording to a clinically applicable protocol to evaluate the phenotype, maturation capacity,migration, and T-cell stimulation of these cells compared with those generated from tumor-freedonors.

RESULTSMoDCs generated from CaP patients could be fully matured and efficientlymigrated towards the chemokine CCL21. They had a strong potency to activate allogeneicCD4þand CD8þ T-cells and to present antigens to specific CTL.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that MoDCs from patients with androgen-independentCaP are functionally intact and hence qualify as cellular vaccines for immunotherapy of advanced stage CaP.